Cathedral City Historical Society
The Bradshaw Trail
Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs Historical Society
Stagecoach on The Bradshaw Trail
In 1862, William Bradshaw established The Bradshaw Trial.
He created it as an overland stagecoach route from San Bernardino, California through Agua Caliente (now the Palm Springs area) on through what is now Cathedral City and on to La Paz, Arizona (now Ehrenberg).
Gold had been discovered in La Paz, and as a former forty-niner, he realized the need for a direct route to the newly discovered, gold-fields.
​
Gold miners, other passengers and supplies traversed this heavily-used route, particularly between 1862 - 1877.
​
Many folks came to Palm Springs via horse-drawn conveyances to visit and settle down. This was prior to the completion of the railroad.
​
There was a stagecoach stop in Cathedral City, behind where Target is now located.
​
The Bradshaw Trail still exists today. The Bureau of Land Management maintains it. They recommend four-wheel-drive vehicles, however.
The Bradshaw Trail
In 1862, William Bradshaw established The Bradshaw Trial.
He created it as an overland stagecoach route from San Bernardino, California through Agua Caliente (now the Palm Springs area) on through what is now Cathedral City and on to La Paz, Arizona (now Ehrenberg).
Gold had been discovered in La Paz, and as a former Forty-Niner, he realized the need for a direct route to the newly discovered, gold-fields.
​
Gold miners, other passengers and supplies traversed this heavily-used route, particularly between 1862 - 1877.
​
Many folks came to Palm Springs via horse-drawn conveyances to visit and settle down. This was prior to the completion of the railroad.
​
There was a stagecoach stop in Cathedral City, behind where Target is now located.
​
The Bradshaw Trail still exists today. The Bureau of Land Management maintains it. They recommend four-wheel-drive vehicles, however.
Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs Historical Society
Stagecoach on The Bradshaw Trail
